| Summary: | 碩士 === 長庚大學 === 護理學系 === 102 === The purposes of this study were to explore the changs of complicated grief during the stage of bereavement for family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients and its influencing factors. This study used a descriptive longitudinal research design and 364 family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients were recruited by a convenience sampling method in a medical center in Northern Taiwan. The Chinese version of the Prolonged Grief Scale was used to measure complicated grief symptoms at four time-points: 6th, 13th, 18th, 24th month after bereavement. Data was analyzed by the Generalized Estimation Equations model.
There were no significant differences in the prevalence of the complicated grief at the four time-points, but intensity of complicated grief levels declined significantly over time.
Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that caregivers with more severe depressive symptoms and a higher level of difficult perception of their relative’s dying situation had a significant higher likelihood of experiencing complicated grief.
The intensity of complicated grief was greater for bereaved caregivers who were decedent patient’s spouse with more severe depressive symptoms. In contrast, the intensity of complicated grief was lower for those who also took care of other family members or friends and bereaved for a longer time.
Caregivers at risk of complicated grief, especially for those who were decedent patient’s spouse with more severe depressive symptoms and those who perceived a difficult dying situation of their relative need to be assessed carefully when terminally ill cancer patients are still alive to prevent family caregivers suffering from complicated grief once they lose their beloved relative. Effective interventions should be developed and provided to at-risk bereaved caregivers to lift their suffering and avoid complicated grief over the bereavement stage.
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